title: Ventral root re-implantation is better than peripheral nerve transplantation for motoneuron survival and regeneration after spinal root avulsion injury.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Peripheral nerve (PN) transplantation and ventral root implantation are the two common types of recovery operations to restore the connection between motoneurons and their target muscles after brachial plexus injury. Despite experience accumulated over the past decade, fundamental knowledge is still lacking concerning the efficacy of the two microsurgical interventions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-eight adult female Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 5 groups. Immediately following root avulsion, animals in the first group (n = 8) and the second group (n = 8) received PN graft and ventral root implantation respectively. The third group (n = 8) and the fourth group (n = 8) received PN graft and ventral root implantation respectively at one week after root avulsion. The fifth group received root avulsion only as control (n = 6). The survival and axonal regeneration of severed motoneurons were investigated at 6 weeks post-implantation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Re-implantation of ventral roots, both immediately after root avulsion and in delay, significantly increased the survival and regeneration of motoneurons in the avulsed segment of the spinal cord as compared with PN graft transplantation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The ventral root re-implantation is a better surgical repairing procedure than PN graft transplantation for brachial plexus injury because of its easier manipulation for re-implanting avulsed ventral roots to the preferred site, less possibility of causing additional damage and better effects on motoneuron survival and axonal regeneration.
authors.forename: Huanxing
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Su
authors.forename: Qiuju
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.forename: Dajiang
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Qin
authors.forename: Xiaoying
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Wai-Man
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Kwok-Fai
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: So
authors.forename: Wutian
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons / Q000502:physiology; D001917:Brachial Plexus / Q000293:injuries / Q000502:physiology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D008866:Microsurgery / Q000379:methods*; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D009416:Nerve Regeneration; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000637:transplantation*; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012092:Replantation; D013126:Spinal Nerve Roots / Q000293:injuries / Q000502:physiology / Q000601:surgery*